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Tag: 2018 budget

  • NASS did not show enough commitment to passage of 2018 budget – Akabueze

    …advocates quick enactment of the’organic budget law’

    The Director General of budget office of the federation, Ben Akabueze on Saturday accused the national assembly of not showing enough commitment to the passage of the 2018 appropriation bill.

    The DG, therefore, advocated that the national assembly should expedite actions the enactment of the “organic budget law” to counter delay in the passage of the 2018 appropriation bill.

    Akabueze spoke at the “Exploit 2018,” a business empowerment platform organised by Bishop Sam Amaga led Salem International Christian Center (SICC), Lekki, Lagos.

    Akabueze explained that the budget office having perfected its side of the bargain thought that at the “very worst” the budget would have been passed in January.

    He said if the organic budget law is in place, it would make key players committed to getting the budget passed.

    “Ultimately, we must get progress on enactment of the organic budget law. That law is pending in the national assembly,” he said.

    “The national assembly was initially very enthusiastic about it. The organic budget law among other things should include a timetable for passing of the budget, which should bind every party involved to a definite date. Anybody who fails to follow it would make it clear that they have broken the law.

    “We have sent a signal of commitment to better public finance management. We have stated that goal over time and everybody was quite excited and we thought the signalling effect would be quite significant.

    “The bottom line is that we have not committed ourselves to this goal of getting the budget passed. If we commit ourselves to it, we will get it done no matter the obstacles… we hoped that at the very worst by January this budget would have been passed.”

    He expressed disappointment that the January-to-December budget cycle could not be met even though “conscious efforts” were put in place to get it passed on schedule.

    Akabueze said though the nation’s fiscal year could be changed based on a recommendation from the national assembly, government planning should synergise with that of the private sector.

    He said: “For myself and my team it is particularly disappointing because we worked extremely hard to be able to get this done.

    “The understanding was that if the budget was submitted to the national assembly in October, it would be passed in December. We worked very hard to make that possible. At the end, we ran into scheduling problems and it couldn’t be presented to the national assembly until November 7.

    “Beyond just the signalling effect, sheer logic dictates that there should be predictability with the nation’s fiscal period. The constitution empowers the national assembly to prescribe another fiscal year. So if we feel that January to December no longer serves us, whether it’s April to March or May to April- whatever we pick- let’s all commit ourselves to try to make it work. That is how serious economies are managed.

    “I personally find nothing wrong with January to December (budget cycle) especially as a larger majority of private sector organisations in Nigeria also run on a January to December cycle. That way, the correlation between public sector activities and private sector activities is reinforced if we are both working on the same planning horizon.”

  • NASS 2018 Budget will be made public – Senate Leader

    The Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday said the 2018 Budget of the National Assembly would be made public.

    Lawan said this while briefing newsmen journalists on the objectives of the “Open NASS’’ initiative designed to increase public access to the operations of the national assembly.

    Lawan heads the Special Committee set up to organise “Open Week Event’’ which is scheduled from June 25 to June 29 at the National Assembly Complex.

    He described the initiative as an evolving one, adopted by parliaments all over the world.

    “Increasingly, governments around the world are promoting initiatives in transparency‎.

    “Governments that are open and transparent are more accountable to their citizens and are less likely to be corrupt.

    “Openness generates trust in government and also paves the way for meaningful participation by citizens and more informed and better policies.

    “Around the world, an increasing number of parliaments are being more proactive in the provision of information.
    “This has become easier with the proliferation of the internet and access to Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    “Many parliaments are now uploading significant‎ documents such as daily order papers, draft laws and committee reports for distribution.

    “It is against this background that the National Assembly has initiated the Open Week to open the National Assembly to the public,’’ he said.

    Lawan emphasised that the event would broaden public understanding of legislative functions and processes and engender interactions between legislators and key stakeholders.

    “Series of activities during the `Open Week’ will include interactive sessions with various interest groups, question and answer sessions.

    “It also includes exhibitions and tours, planned over a four-day period to raise awareness on legislative initiative and activities,’’ Mr Lawan said.

    He said that the interactive sessions would feature members of the executive arm of government on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the Judiciary on pre- and post-elections adjudication.

    “Others are constitutional separation of powers, a session with state assemblies and a session with trade unions ‎on economic growth and industrial relations.

    “Also, there will be sessions with traditional rulers and pressure groups, civil society organisations on accountability and service delivery in governance as well as sessions with women, youth, and student bodies.

    “The exercise will feature daily exhibitions for National Assembly Committees to display their outputs and interface with stakeholders via cluster units to be created from both chambers for ease of access.

    “The benefits of the Open Week are numerous and have direct bearing on democratic governance in Nigeria.

    “Through the Open Week, the National Assembly is fostering public participation in the democratic process.

    “Giving the public access to legislative information, activities and policies are substantial steps towards empowering them to take part in political dialogue and decision-making processes.

    “Allowing public access to the legislature allows stakeholders to scrutinise our actions as an institution, such public engagement can lead to greater trust in government.

    “We have nothing to hide; being able to access this information significantly reduces suspicion and generates trust,’’ the lawmaker said.

  • APC Lawmaker reveals when 2018 budget’d be ready

    Rep. Zakari Mohammed, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, has assured that the country’s 2018 budget would by end of April.

    Mohammed told newsmen in Ogbomoso on the sideline of an empowerment programme organised by Rep. Segun Ogunwuyi (APC-Ogbomoso North/South/Oriire) for his constituents.

    Ogunwuyi had through the programme empowered 827 beneficiaries, including various associations and traditional rulers.

    Mohammed, who represented the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, at the event, stated that the delay in passing the budget was due to lack of cooperation from some ministers.

    “When a budget is laid, it is our duty to ask for detail information because we won’t manufacture figures. That is the problem. I am sure that by the end of April we will have a budget,’’ he said.

    He urged the executive arm of government to work harder in generating more revenue to implement the budget, adding that budget performance in recent times is dropping.

    The lawmaker urged the people to ensure Ogunwuyi’s re-election to the National Assembly in 2019, saying the type of lawmaking template they operated was in consonance with longevity.

    “When you go to the National Assembly as a first timer, it takes you more than three years to learn the process and by the end of four years you will have nothing to show,’’ according to him.

    Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North) commended Ogunwuyi for bringing the dividends of democracy to the constituents, saying he has demonstrated love for his constituents.

    Buhari urged the constituents to support Ogunwuyi for another term, adding that his quality of representation improves as long as he stayed.

    Similarly, Rep. Segun Odebunmi, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, as well as Rep. Abiodun Olasupo, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Compliance, corroborated Buhari.

    The duo urged the people to support Ogunwuyi and the APC at all levels to ensure continuity, which they said enhances good governance in terms of development as well as quality representation.

    Ogunwuyi said that the programme, which he tagged `Reconnecting the Disconnect’, was to empower his people and allow them benefit from the dividends of democracy.

    The lawmaker, who sought their support for another term, stated that he would not relent in his efforts at empowering constituents to compete favourably with others outside the constituency.

    Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to NAN commended the lawmaker for the gesture, pledging to give him more support to uplift the constituency.

    The legislator distributed 11 cars, 136 grinding machines, 216 bags of fertiliser, 33 hair dryers, 60 motorcycles, 73 generating sets, five laptops, 112 gas cookers and 112 gas cookers, among other items.

    Ogunwuyi had also trained several people in various skill acquisition programmes, facilitated employment for some unemployed youths and empowered traders across the constituency.

    The event was also attended by members of the State APC Executive led by the State Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, religious leaders, party supporters as well as representatives of Soun of Ogbomoso and Onpetu of Ijeru.

     

  • NASS shifts 2018 Budget approval date

    Contrary to expectations that the 2018 budget estimates of N8.612 trillion would be passed by April, the National Assembly has postponed the approval of this year’s budget till May 2018.

    Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Mustapha Dawaki, made this known at the 2018 National Budget Hearing in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The hearing was jointly organised by the Senate and House Committees on Appropriation.

    Dawaki, explained that if the budget was not passed by April 24 as assured by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, then the N2.06 trillion 2017 capital budget would run till May 31.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had in his presentation of the 2018 appropriation bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on Nov. 7, 2017, called for speedy passage of the budget to allow for implementation of the January to December budget cycle.

    Both legislative chambers had blamed the delay in the approval of the bill to refusal of heads of ministries, departments and agencies to come forward and defend their respective budget proposals.

     

  • Zonal intervention projects: No amount of blackmail’ll stop us – Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has said that no amount of blackmail from any quarters will force the National Assembly to abandon Zonal Intervention Projects because it is the tool with which they ensure equity in project allocation nationwide.

    He added that though the instrumentality of zonal intervention projects has been grossly misunderstood and terribly maligned, it does not change the fact that it has brought development across all federal constituencies and federal presence to remote and forgotten areas in the country.

    Hon Dogara made the statements while speaking at the public hearing organised by the Joint Committees of Appropriation of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    The Speaker said, “Over the years, the efforts of legislators, especially at the National Assembly to inject equity in budget patronage nationwide through the instrumentality of zonal intervention projects has been grossly misunderstood and terribly maligned mostly by those who are deliberately ignorant and have concocted their own concept of constituency projects which they apply as their yardstick of measurement.

    “I make bold to state that, but for Zonal Intervention Projects, many communities in Nigeria would never have enjoyed any form of Federal Government patronage. Put differently, zonal intervention projects represent the only evidence of Federal government presence in most rural communities of Nigeria.

    “Consequently, as representatives of the people, no amount of blackmail from any quarters will force us to abandon our resolve to ensure even development across all federal constituencies.”

    He implored stakeholders, and indeed all Nigerians who are showing more interest in the budget making process, to pay greater attention to the implementation of approved budget and not the size because only effective budget implementation determines its quality.

    “Demand strict accountability from all elected officials on this matter. Jacob Lew captured the issue succinctly when he said, ‘The budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.’ The citizen must therefore insist on the total realisation of these values and aspirations rather than merely the collection of figures,” he charged.

     

  • 2018 Budget: Dogara remarks at NASS public hearing

    It is my honour and privilege to welcome us all to this crucial Public Hearing on the 2018 National Budget, organized jointly by the Committees on Appropriation of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    This is the second in the series of National Annual budget Hearings put together by the National Assembly and I wish to commend everyone present for making out time to participate.

    Public Hearing is the platform which the Legislature provides for citizens to participate in governance. This is done pursuant to the legislature’s role of representation on the one hand and in the fulfilment of the Constitutional injunction under the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of state Policy in Section 14 (2) (c) of the Constitution which provides that the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured.

    Before now, the citizen had become more accustomed with Public Hearing on Bills on the making of laws other than Appropriation. While every law made by the National Assembly is important, many citizens conform with lawful conduct as of norm rather than compliance with legislations. Appropriation is however the piece of legislation that affects the life and wellbeing of every citizen irrespective of his/her awareness or the absence of it.

    As Representatives of the people, legislators are constantly in touch with their constituents and are therefore in a position to appreciate their peculiar priority needs which they can then articulate in the budget. This notwithstanding, an African adage says ” The best rendition of a song is from the mouth of the composer” , and therefore the citizen’s personal opinion on the budget in fora such as this remains critical in spite of the fact that he/her enjoys representation in Parliament.

    Over the years, the efforts of legislators, especially at the National Assembly to inject equity in budget patronage nationwide through the instrumentality of zonal intervention projects has been grossly misunderstood and terribly maligned mostly by those who are deliberately ignorant and have concocted their own concept of constituency projects which they apply as their yardstick of measurement. I make bold to State that, but for Zonal Intervention projects, many communities in Nigeria would never have enjoyed any form of Federal Government patronage. Put differently, zonal intervention projects represent the only evidence of Federal government presence in most rural communities of Nigeria. Consequently, as representatives of the people, no amount of blackmail from any quarters will force us to abandon our resolve to ensure even development across all Federal Constituencies.

    I should like once again to state that the quality of a budget is not in its size or content but in it’s effective implementation. I would therefore implore stakeholders, and indeed all Nigerians, that as they are beginning to show interest in the budget making process, they should show even greater interest in the implementation of approved budgets. They must demand strict accountability from all elected officials on this matter. Jacob Lew captured the issue succinctly when he said, “The budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.” The citizen must therefore insist on the total realization of these values and aspirations rather than merely the collection of figures.

    I am confident that at this forum, everyone will work assiduously toward, not only ensuring an equitable collection of figures but more so, the full realization of those expressed values and aspirations through efficient and effective budget implementation.

    I wish us all, a most effective Budget 2018 Hearing.

    God bless you all and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

     

  • 2018 Budget: Saraki remarks at NASS public hearing

    It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Joint National Public Hearing on the 2018 Budget. When the first joint session took place last year, the conclusion was indicative of our intention to make this an annual event, and we are keeping to that resolve.

    In the 8th National Assembly, we believe that the citizens, who we represent, are critical stakeholders in nation building. We promised, and were the first Nigerian legislature to make the civil society part of the budget process through the institutionalization of the Public Hearing process as part of the Budget process. For the first time, civil society has a voice at the table, with regard to the Budget. Public Hearing on the Budget as part of the enactment process, has come to stay.

    It is with that in mind that this forum has been designed to bring together civil society and non-governmental organisations, as well as thought-leaders in the online and social media circle – and, of course, the Executive and Legislature – as an interactive session on the public Budget.

    Distinguished Guests, you will recall that the National Assembly started its consideration of the 2018 Budget as soon as it was presented by Mr. President. In line with our commitments to making the enactment process more transparent and inclusive, as earlier described, this interactive session is intended to enable us to consider fresh opinions, explore other dimensions and weigh new perspectives on the 2018 Federal Budget proposal.

    Unlike the maiden edition held on the 13th of February last year – when we considered the 2017 Appropriations Bill – this two-day session affords participants the platform to engage – not only on the details of the Appropriations Bill – but also on the underlying assumptions driving the Budget revenue, which we believe are critical for a successful implementation of the Budget.

    As you may be aware, in our interrogation of the 2018 Budget proposal, we have chosen to place more emphasis on getting our revenue projections right. The importance of setting realistic revenue targets, and achieving them, cannot be overemphasised – especially as revenue performance has tended to fall below targets in the past.

    Moreover, we are concerned about Government-Owned Enterprises whose operating surpluses have always been significantly lower than projections. Invariably, over the years, the performance of independent revenues has fallen short by at least 50 per cent. While we work towards setting new performance standards for government corporations as well as developing stronger oversight frameworks to improve performance in independent revenues, we do expect more realistic projections of Corporations operating surpluses.

    It is also observable that non-oil revenue performances have been impacted by policy inconsistencies and leakages. Thus, in addition to our call for improved systems and processes to plug revenue leakages, we had required that the 2018 Budget proposal be accompanied by a 2018 Finance Bill (which has so far not been received by the National Assembly). Let me therefore use this opportunity to, once again, emphasise the need for the Finance Bill. We want government to show clarity and consistency in its policies and to see how these will square up to its financial projections for 2018.

    We acknowledge Nigeria’s huge infrastructural deficit, as well as the need to expand planned expenditure. However, you will agree with me that, while it is important to achieve equity and balance in the spread of development projects around the country, we must also prioritise human capital development. It is in this vein that the National Assembly will prioritise expenditure on critical health and education facilities as well as soft infrastructure.

    Furthermore, we must ensure an adherence to the 1% resolution to health. This requires the Basic Health Fund to be funded by 1% of the Consolidated National Fund. This funding, which amounts to 86 billion naira, has yet to be committed. When the Speaker and I met with Bill Gates last week, the emphasis was on health, and it is something we should take very seriously indeed, especially as the 1% resolution would go a long way in boosting basic maternal and child health immunisation services as well as local and rural community health in this country.

    In addition, there is the need to ensure real value-for-money in government spending as well as prioritise spending on locally made goods. The Made-in-Nigeria initiative, with particular regard to government procurements, is already the thrust of a significant law passed by the 8th National Assembly – and which has the added advantage of helping to revamp our industrial base. This is one sure way of creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, encouraging private sector partnerships and creating jobs, especially for the youth.

    As a legislature, we are acutely aware that modern democratic lawmaking requires the deliberate engagement of the people; and that issues that matter most to the people should form the core objective of parliament. And so, for the first time, the National Assembly is becoming the People’s Parliament – where all shades of opinions are ventilated and experts are also able to have the space to contribute to the fashioning of solutions that will endure.

    It is therefore my firm belief that, with your inputs and contributions at this Public Hearing, the 2018 Budget will deliver the envisioned socio-economic benefits to Nigerians in an all-inclusive manner. That is why we strongly encourage stakeholders’ participation in the process, especially as it relates to the provision of public services and equitable distribution of social benefits.

    I urge everyone to feel free and be constructive in our submissions, as this will not only enhance the outcome of this interactive session but engender the attainment of the development interest of Nigerians.

    Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me assure you that your suggestions will be carefully considered and utilised in ensuring that we pass a Budget that addresses our core development needs in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

    I wish you fruitful deliberations, as I formally declare open this Joint Public Hearing, to the greater development and prosperity of Nigeria.

    Thank you.

    DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI (MBBS, CON)

    PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

     

  • Electoral Act Amendment: Investigation opens into alleged N17.9m for pro-executive Senators

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has directed the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate pro-executive Senators allegedly lining up for N17.9 million.

    The Senate President gave the directive after Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, citing Order 15, moved that the Senate investigate into a publication that pro-executive Senators and House of Representatives lined up for N17.9 million and N10.8 million respectively.

    According to the publication, being referred to by Senator Nwaoboshi, following President Muhammadu Buhari refusal to endorse the new the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, and National Assembly (NASS) plan to veto Buhari’s approval, some pro-Executive Senators and members of the House of Representatives have been lined up for $50,000 and $30,000, respectively, to stop the NASS from going ahead with plans to veto the president on the Bill that re-ordered general elections in the country.

    “I want to move for this matter to be investigated,” Nwaoboshi said, with Senator Mao Ohuabunwa supporting the move, saying, “This issue must be investigated and whoever is involved must be brought to book”.

    Saraki then referred matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for investigation with a mandate to report back within a week, stressing, “We need to thoroughly investigate this matter”.

    In a different development, TheNewsGuru reports the NASS today converged to hold a second Joint Public Hearing on the 2018 appropriation bill in order to receive inputs and ensure inclusiveness of citizens, stakeholders and development partners.

    The public hearing held at conference room 022, ground floor of the Senate building, NASS complex, Abuja, and will continue until Wednesday 28 March 2018 with Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as special guests of honour.

    At Senate plenary session today and in relation to the second Joint National Budget Hearing (2018 Appropriation Bill) being hosted by the NASS Joint Committee on Appropriations, the Senate President said Thursday, 29th March, 2018 will be the day for final submission of the 2018 budget.

    In his remarks, Speaker Dogara said, “The quality of budget is not in its size or content but in its implementation” and that NASS public hearings are platforms where legislature provide for citizens to participate in governance.

     

  • JUST IN: 2018 Budget sees light as NASS holds 2nd joint public hearing

    The 2018 Budget is seeing the light of day as the National Assembly (NASS) has converged to hold a second Joint Public Hearing on the 2018 appropriation bill in order to receive inputs and ensure inclusiveness of citizens, stakeholders and development partners.

    TheNewsGuru reports the public hearing is holding at conference room 022, ground floor of the Senate building, NASS complex, Abuja, and will continue until Wednesday 28 March 2018.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara are special guests of honour at the second Joint National Budget Hearing (2018 Appropriation Bill) being hosted by the NASS Joint Committee on Appropriations.

    According to the Senate President at Senate plenary session today, Thursday, 29th March, 2018 will be the day for final submission of the 2018 budget.

    In his remarks, Speaker Dogara said, “The quality of budget is not in its size or content but in its implementation” and that NASS public hearings are platforms where legislature provide for citizens to participate in governance.

     

    Details to follow shortly…

     

  • National Assembly fixes date for passage of 2018 budget

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives,Yakubu Dogara on Wednesday confirmed that the 2018 Appropriation Bill will be passed by the National Assembly on April 24.

    Dogara, who gave the hint at plenary said a harmonised committee of the two chambers of the Parliament had proposed to lay the budget on April 19 to prepare for its passage on April 24.

    Recall that the budget has become a source of tension between the two arms of government.

    While the Executive claimed the lawmakers had arrested the budget, the lawmakers said Ministers and heads of Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were not coming to defend their budget estimates.

    President Muhammadu Buhari laid the budget estimates on November 7, before a joint session of the National Assembly. The executive urged the lawmakers to pass the budget by December so as to return to the normal January to December budget cycle.

    In Dogara’s words: “We are proposing that we are laying the budget finally on the 19th of April 2018. Hopefully, we will be passing the budget on 24th April, 2018. This is harmonised calendar with the Senate”.

    In a similar vein, the Senate at plenary on Wednesday also listed 23 ministries allegedly frustrating the passage of the budget.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki directed Chairmen of standing committees to submit reports of the 2018 budget to the Appropriation Committee without further delay.

    A document marked “Committees 2018 budget status as at 21st March, 2018” listed Ministries Works, Land Transport, Finance and Science and Technology among 23 ministries and agencies that have failed to appear before its committees to defend their 2018 budget proposals.

    Mr. Babatunde Fashola is minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun Minister of Finance, Chibuike Amaechi is minister of Land Transport while Ogbonnaya Onu is minister of Science and technology.

    Other ministries also listed in the document obtained by our reporter included Culture and Tourism, Education (Basic and Secondary), Foreign Affairs, Health, Housing, Privatization, Solid Mineral, Sports and Youth Development and Tertiary Institution and TETFund.

    Saraki asked the committee chairmen to take steps to submit their reports on 2018 budget to Senator Mohammed Goje led Appropriation Committee.

    The Senate President gave 29th March 2018 as deadline for the submission of the reports.

    He said, “This is to inform chairmen of all committees to as a matter of urgency, submit reports of their various committees on the 2018 budget to the chairman of the Senate committee on Appropriation.

    “The reports should be submitted beginning from Thursday, 22nd March 2018 to Thursday, 29th March, 2018. I urge lawmakers to take this assignment very seriously.”